Jane Stanford | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 8th First Lady of California | |
| In office January 10, 1862 – December 10, 1863 | |
| Preceded by | Maria Downey |
| Succeeded by | Mollie Low |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Jane Elizabeth Lathrop August 25, 1828 Albany, New York, U.S. |
| Died | February 28, 1905 (aged 76) Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii |
| Resting place | Stanford Mausoleum, Stanford, California |
| Spouse | |
| Children | Leland Stanford Jr. |
| Occupation | Social entrepreneur, philanthropist |
| Known for | Co-founder of Stanford University |
Jane Elizabeth Lathrop Stanford (August 25, 1828 – February 28, 1905) was an American philanthropist and co-founder of Stanford University in 1885 (opened 1891), along with her husband, Leland Stanford, in memory of their only child, Leland Stanford Jr., who died of typhoid fever at age 15 in 1884. After her husband's death in 1893, she funded and operated the university almost single-handedly until her unsolved murder by strychnine poisoning in 1905.
She was the eighth First Lady of California. Her husband served as governor from January 10, 1862 to December 10, 1863.